Driving with my pet in the car can be a major hassle. Sure, I know that cat or dog may be comfortable sitting there quietly for the duration of the ride.
However, it’s also quite possible that your pug will spend the whole time whining from the confines of his crate or that your cat will take refuge atop your shoulder — and what happens if there’s a traffic jam? What if Fido needs to go for a walk?
The different situations bring me to the question, how are pets carried in flight? While driving may be easier for you to travel with your dog, but flights have different scenario.
If you’ve ever experienced driving adventures with your pets, the prospect of bringing your pet aboard a commercial airliner might sound like a nightmare at 35,000 feet or so (10,668 meters).
However, the prospect of leaving a beloved, four-legged friend behind is often unthinkable.
What You Should Know About Pets during Flights
Pets aren’t people. I have this at the back of my mind. Even if they were capable of enjoying all the amenities offered in first-class seating, they wouldn’t be eligible.
They may be the love of your life, but onboard an airliner, they generally fall into one of three different categories: carry-on baggage, checked baggage, or cargo.
As a result, you have to know which category your pet falls into when you want to fly. For example, my Fido is a small breed and always travels as a carry-on baggage.
However, you may have a bigger breed that requires that they travel as cargo. You can save time and discomfort if you can call your airline before you book your flight.
Know How the Caged Pet Flies
Pets can be under a dangerous and stressful undertaking while flying, even if feline-plotted foul play isn’t a factor. Most airlines recommend that a pet be at least 8 weeks old and properly weaned before it flies.
Even if your pet is a healthy adult, it might not be a good idea to take it on a plane. Some snub-nosed cats and dogs have trouble breathing, and some dog breeds, such as pugs, overheat easily, making them less-than-ideal checked baggage.
Still, most airlines allow you to ship pets, unaccompanied, as cargo. The exact rules regarding their transport vary depending on the airline, destination, and animal breed, but this method of transportation tends to see a pet confined to an approved carrier in a cargo hold.
Pets are shipped in Climate-controlled sections of the cargo held year-round by airlines that often place restrictions on transport during particularly hot or cold weather conditions. The reason for this is that while the cargo area is temperature-controlled, other parts of the terminal may not be.
Cargo hold size and conditions depend greatly on the type of plane and the airline that operates it. In many models, the baggage area takes up the level directly beneath the passenger cabins. Baggage handlers typically strap animal crates in place and may wrap them with perforated air cushion rolls.
The Temperature and Flying
If the forecast calls for temperatures below 45 degrees in the United States, airlines typically won’t accept pet baggage if the forecast calls for temperatures below 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) or above 85 degrees F (29 degrees C) to meet regulations governed by the Animal Welfare Act.
With proper acclimation certification, however, some animals may be permitted to endure hotter conditions or temperatures as low as 20 degrees F (-7 degrees C).
If you choose to bring your pet along as checked baggage, it will travel under the same conditions as those shipped as cargo. However, if you bring it along as a carry-on, the lucky cat or dog will get to experience the same flying conditions as you do.
The only difference is that while you get to recline back in your seat and snack on peanuts, your furry friend will have to remain inside its carrier for the duration of the flight.
If your pet happens to bark or meow a lot in confined spaces, be prepared to endure some hateful looks from your fellow passengers.
Of course, for the truly pampered pet, chartered flights are always a pricier alternative. One company, Companion Air, even hopes to offer pet-friendly flights in which the animals ride in specially designed passenger cabins.
However, if you cannot afford such airline, you may have to do with the normal flights. I have always flown with my dog, but I ensure that every requirement from my airlines is met.
Finally, the comfort of my dog is important. If an airline cannot offer my dog safety and comfort, I don’t use such company. I recommend that you use a company that can fly your pet in safety.
FAQs
Where do they keep the pets on a plane?
Pets are placed in “hold 5”, at the rear of the plane. It is part of the cargo area underneath the cabin, but it is separated and it’s heated. It is kept at the same temperature and pressure as the cabin, since the captain is notified of animals on board, and will make sure of this.
Do dogs go with the luggage on a plane?
If they are small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you, your dog can fly in the cabin as a carry-on, However, a bigger pet larger will have to travel in the cargo hold, with the luggage and freight.
Although rules vary from airline to airline, your dog can typically only fly in the cabin—a.k.a. as a carry-on. As a result, if they are small enough to fit in a carrier under the seat in front of you. Any larger pup will have to travel with the luggage and freight in the cargo hold.
How are pets carried in flight?
The pet must be properly carried in soft ventilated bags/kennel in the prescribed size (kennel size not to exceed 18″ x 18″ x 12″). The pet’s weight, including the container, should not exceed 5 kgs for carriage in the cabin. Pets of larger size/weight will be carried in the cargo hold.